Wars of the Roses

Wars of the Roses a series of medieval wars to decide the kings of England.

Understand

Series of wars for the English Crown between two Royal houses: the House of York (supported by the House of Tudor) and House of Lancaster 1455-1485.

They are the main inspiration for George R. R. Martin's fantasy novel series A Song of Ice and Fire, which in turn inspired the television series Game of Thrones.

The Wars of the Roses ended in 1487 with the House of Tudor ascending to the throne, heralding the Tudor Renaissance. The end of the war is seen as the end of the Middle Ages and the beginning of the early modern era.

Get in

Preferably on horseback mounted on your destrier, with the aim of capturing the City of London.

Go

Battlefields (chronological)

_{The Rose after the battle's date shows the winning side.}

Henry VI of Lancester Reign 1422-1461

1 First Battle of St Albans (1455 ). Beginning the Wars of the Roses. Richard of York captured Henry VI  

2 Battle of Blore Heath (1459 ) (2 mi (3.2 km) east of Market Drayton).  

3 Battle of Ludford Bridge (1459 ) (south of Ludlow).  

4 Battle of Northampton (1460 ).  

5 Battle of Wakefield (1460 ).  

Edward IV of York first reign 1461-1470

6 Battle of Mortimer's Cross (1461 ) (west of Leominster).  

Second Battle of St Albans (1461 ).  

7 Battle of Towton (1461 ) (south of Tadcaster).  

8 Battle of Hexham (1464 ).  

9 Battle of Edgcote (1469 ) (6 mi (9.7 km) north east of Banbury). A rebel victory, against a royal army handing power to the Earl of Warwick [who was not there].  

10 Battle of Losecoat Field (1470 ) (near Stanford).  

Warwick entered London in triumph and freed Henry VI from the Tower on 6 October 1470.

King Edward IV of York returned to reign 1471-1483

11 Battle of Barnet (1471 ). Warwick died in the battle in the fog allowing Edward IV to march into the City of London  

12 Battle of Tewkesbury (1471 ).  

Henry VII Tudor of York Won 1485-1509

13 Battle of Bosworth Field (1485 ) (13 mi (21 km) west of Leicester with its King Richard III Visitor Centre). where King Richard III of York 1483-1485 was slain. (updated Dec 2022)

Fortified Castles and Towns

1 Tower of London (1460 ) (outside the city's walls north of the [new] Tower Bridge), visitorservices_TOL@hrp.org.uk. Besieged in 1460. The Lancastrian garrison were starved into surrender. A UNESCO World Heritage Site. £25.  

2 Bamburgh Castle (1464 ), North west of Seahouses. Besieged in 1464 and captured by the Duke of Warwick for the house of York.  

3 Harlech Castle (Welsh: Castell Harlech 1461-8 ), Harlech, LL46 2YH. Held by Lancastrian forces 1461-7. Jasper Tudor landed French reinforcements there. It was captured by the Yorkists 1468 .  

4 Pembroke Castle, Pembroke, SA71 4LE. The birthplace of King Henry VII . £10.00.  

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See also

• Castles in Britain and Ireland
• Medieval Britain and Ireland